LANCASTER, Pa. - The Atlantic East Conference announced the Women’s Soccer weekly award winners on Monday, as Neumann’s Julianna Hatt and Marywood’s Britlyn Higgins won Player and Defensive Player of the Week honors respectively.
Player of the Week:
Name: Julianna Hatt
School: Neumann
Class: First Year
Position: Midfielder
Hometown: Coatesville, Pa.
High School: Coatesville
Brief Outlook of Week: Julianna Hatt had a memorable debut with Neumann as she scored two goals in a 2-1 win over Penn State Abington in the season opener. The first year opened the scoring in the 26th minute. With time winding down and the score tied, Hatt found the net with under two minutes left in the game for the 2-1 win.
Defensive Player of the Week:
Name: Britlyn Higgins
School: Marywood
Class: 5th year
Position: Center Back
Hometown: Fort Worth, Texas
High School: Central York (Pa.)
Brief Outlook of Week: Higgins helped the Marywood defense to a 1-0 shutout over Muhlenberg. The Pacers' backs limited the Mules to four total shots and three shots on target.
Weekly Honor Roll:
Nicole Alvarado (Fy., Attack, Marymount): In her first collegiate match, first-year Nicole Alvarado notched a goal and two shots in the Saints' thrilling loss to Shenandoah on Friday.
Lex Navarro (Jr., Goalkeeeper, Neumann): In the first game of the season, Lex Navarro made four saves in a 2-1 win over Penn State Abington. The junior made a huge save in the 85th minute to set up the winning goal for the Knights in the 89th minute.
Emily Guthier (Immaculata): Guthier had a combined nine saves over two games for Immaculata. She made six saves in Immaculata's season-opening 2-1 win at Bryn Athyn. She made three saves against Alvernia including one where she made a diving deflection on a crossed ball knocking it away from an approaching Wolves player, then got up to make a save on a close-in shot.
Rebecca Gordon (So., Defense/Midfield, Gwynedd Mercy): Gordon led a strong backfield that held Penn State Brandywine scoreless to help Gwynedd in the 8-0 victory to open the season. The sophomore also added an assist in the contest with eight shots and four on net.
Rachel McNamee (Sr., Midfield, Immaculata): McNamee began her senior season with goals in each of Immaculata's games this weekend. In Friday's season opener at Bryn Athyn, McNamee scored in the 58th minute on a 20-yard shot over the goalkeeper to tie the score at 1-1. The Mighty Macs would go on to win the game 2-1. In Sunday's game at Alvernia, McNamee scored on a free kick from 30 yards out to score the Macs' lone goal. McNamee had six shots including four on goal over the two games. The goals were the 14th and 15th of McNamee's IU career.
Riley Mulherin (Sr., Forward, Marywood): Mulherin flicked in the lone goal in the Pacers' 1-0 victory over Muhlenberg to start the season. In the 19th minute, Mulherin headed a Josephine Sorce corner kick into the corner of the goal. She moves into a tie for fifth all-time in school history in career goals (36).
Kat Thomsen (Jr., Forward, Pratt): Junior captain Kat Thomsen bagged a brace in Pratt's season-opening 7-0 win over neighborhood rivals St. Joseph's-Brooklyn, scoring twice in the opening half.
Demmi Fox (So., Forward, Gwynedd Mercy): Sophomore forward Fox scored twice and assisted on another in an 8-0 win over Penn State Brandywine. To help the Grryffins open the season 1-0.
Previous Weekly Award Winners: N/A